Oil burner



1.933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 J. H. MOILVAINE OIL BURNER Original Fild Jan. 11,

g 7 J. z .m w m 8 n0 0 mm 6M fig z M 4 W. 4 II I nm. 1| 0 7 J 4 a J. H. MCILVAINE OIL BURNER Original Filed Jan. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii-EM Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL BURNER John H. Mcllvaine, Chicago, 111., assignor to Mcllvaine Burner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois 6 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid fuel or hydrocarbon burners, commonly known as oil burners, and, while the invention may be used for either industrial or domestic heating, the present application is for a furnace suitable for heating an average home.

In my Patent No. 1,654,658, I disclosed a burner in which the air and oil feed is increased or decreased in proper proportions by operation of a control valve and air shutter, either by a thermostatically controlled regulator or by a hand operated remote control unit. The burner of the present invention differs from that, generally speaking, in having a single gravity feed line with a main passage controlled by a solenoid valve which remains open so long as the current for the motor is not interrupted, and having a secondary passage controlled by a small valve adjusted to by-pass oil around the main valve while the current is interrupted, whereby to maintain a reduced flame sufficient to keep the house warm. until the normal feed and air blower draft is resumed.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a burner in which the fan housing is constructed to form a support for the other devices of the apparatus such as the regulator, fioat valve and control valve, in addition to supporting the outer end of the air tube that communicates with the housing. Then too, in accordance with my invention, a hollow supporting post is provided as one of the supports for the fan housing and is so disposed with respect to the float valve to serve as a housing or guide for the chain of the trip bucket forming a part of the trip mechanism for said valve, in addition to serving as a conduit for overflow oil from the overflow pipe of the float valve to conduct the oil to the trip bucket.

Still another object consists in providing a pair of spaced supports in connection with the aforesaid hollow supporting post whereby to give stability tothe unit by a tripod support, although only two supporting posts are used, one at the front and the other at the rear of the unit. In accordance with the invention, the spaced supports also have a housing therebetween to enclose the trip bucket for protection thereof against accidental operation of the trip mechanism.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 651,083, filed January 11, 1933.

The invention is hereinafter described by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of an oil burner made in accordance with my invention, showing its application to a heater or furnace for a home;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the upper portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the other side of so much of the burner as appears in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. l.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

In describing the burner of my invention, the liquid fuel will be referred to as oil. The oil circuit will be traced first. The oil is stored in a basement storage tank or underground storage tank outside. Where an underground tank is used, an automatic transfer pump is provided to bring the oil into the basement. The oil flows by gravity through the pipe 9 to the filter H] which contains a large area of filtering cloth to remove all dirt and foreign matter, so that only clean oil is delivered to the burner. After passing through the filter, the oil enters the bottom of the housing of the float valve, indicated generally by the numeral H, the purpose of which is to maintain a constant level of fuel, indicated by the line acy in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to insure an even pressure of fuel and an even fiame free from pulsations or surges. The oil flows from the float valve chamber by gravity through the pipe connection 12 to enter the housing of a solenoid valve, indicated generally by the numeral l3, which permits an unrestricted flow of oil so long as the current for the electric motor I4 is not interrupted. In other words, the solenoid valve is kept open by reason of energization of its coil by the same current for operating the motor. If the current is interrupted, a main valve in the solenoid valve I3 is closed and the oil is by-passed through a secondary valve therein, adjusted to reduce the flow to approximately one-third of the maximum capacity of the burner, so as to maintain a reduced flame using natural draft and sufficient to keep the house warm until the normal feed and air blower draft is resumed. The oil is discharged from the solenoid valve !3 through neck l5 of the control valve, indicated generally by the numeral 16. The adjustment of valve l6 regulates the oil feed according to the heat demand. From this valve'the oil flows by gravity through pipe I! and connection I8 t0 the pipe l9, which extends lengthwise inside the air tube 20, to the elbow 2| disposed over the firepot 22. The elbow 2| is a one-piece casting constructed with a slight offset therein so as to define an overflow point 23 therein below an air opening 24, the purpose of which is to prevent siphoning. The opening also faces in the proper direction with relation to the air flow through the tube 29 so as to have the benefit of the air pressure to assure positive feeding of the oil downwardly through the elbow 2|, as well as assist in breaking up the oil into small particles at the sharp delivery point 25 and improve combustion, especially at high loads. A'

screw 26 serves to support the elbow 2| in the tube 29 to insure a definite relationship between the point 25 and the point in the firepot 22 toward which the fine stream of oil is to be discharged. Reference may be had to my Patent 1,654,659 for an understanding of the construction and mode of operation of the firepot 22. It is clear then from the foregoing description that the oil burner of my invention has a simple gravity feed, regulated in accordance with heat demand by the valve l6, and controlled by the solenoid valve l3 to change from a normal oil feed while the motor is running to furnish a forced air draft, to a restricted feed for a low carry over flame when the current for the motor is interrupted by reason of a temporary shut-down of the electric service for the home.

The air for mixture with the vaporized fuel and to support combustion is supplied by a centrifugal fan 2'. operating in a housing 28, which has a tangential discharge neck 29 communicating with the outer end of the air tube 29, whereby to deliver the air through the tube into the firepot 22, where the mixing of air and oil and its combustion occurs. The shaft indicated at 30 in Fig, 4 is the armature shaft of the motor M which extends into the housing 29 and has the fan rotor fixed thereon. The amount of air delivered by the fan is regulated by the rotatably adjustable shutter plate 3|. This shutter plate, in accordance with my Patent 1,654,658, is mounted for rotation about the center relative to a stationary shutter plate 33 removably secured, as by screws, on the housing 2%. Removal of the shutter plate 33 affords access'to the inside of the blower housing 28 for cleaning out dirt that may collect therein especially at the neck 29 discharging into the tube 29. The fixed plate 33 has two diametrically opposed quadrants with relation to which the diametrically opposed quadrants ofopenings 34 and 35 in the plate 3| are arranged to register. ings 34-45 all have closure plates 35 thereon adjusted so that only the proper amount of air is allowed to enter at each one of a succession of adjusted positions of the plate 3|, the plate being turned one step at a time and adjustments of the closure plates being made one at a time so as to secure the exact amount of air delivery for each position of the plate. A link 31 provides connection between the shutter plate 3| and a lever arm 38 fixed to the hand wheel 39 of the control valve it, so that the control valve is opened wider and wider at each step toward wider and wider opening of the shutter. Another link .9 provides connection between the shutter plate 3| and the rotatable crank arm 4| of the regulator 42, that is, where automatic control is desired; in some instal ations, a remote control unit is provided having connection with the shutter plate for direct manual adjustment thereof. In the automatic control, the room thermostat located conveniently upstairs causes the regulator 42 to operate so as to adjust the size of the flame and constantly balance the heat loss of the building and thus maintain a very even temperature.

The open- 7 ,7

In the event the flame is accidentally extinguished, oil runs out of the firepot 22 into the base 43 constructed to serve as a catch basin. A pipe 45 drains the oil from the base 43 into a trip bucket 45, whereby to place a load on the trip lever 46, to which the bucket is connected by the chain 41. The trip mechanism is similar to that disclosed in my Patent 1,692,046 and embodies a drop weight 48 pivoted as at 49 and normally disposed on one side of dead center in a raised cocked position, but arranged when the lever 45 is moved downwardly under load of the trip bucket in filling, to be moved over dead center so as to drop onto the lever 66 with a hammer-like blow. The lever 46 is disposed over the projecting end 59 of the needle valve, or other equivalent element in the float chamber, and serves to depress the same and shut off communication between the oil supply pipe 9 and the float chamber, so that no further oil will be delivered. The trip bucket 45 is also arranged to catch oil draining from the float valve I through an overflow tube 5|. The latter communicates with the float chamber at a point just below the cover 52 thereof and well above the normal'level, indicated by the line :1:y. Thus, if the oil level rises in the float valve through a failure of the float mechanism to close the needle valve, overflow oil is drained through the tube 5| and into the trip bucket 45, whereby to cause the trip mechanism to close the needle valve similarly as stated before. In passing, I would call attention to the tube 52 connecting the neck |5 of the valve I9 with the float chamber at a point above the oil level x-y, by connection with the tube 5| next to the float chamber as shown. This is simply to permit venting air from the oil line ahead of the valve l6, so that no air bubbles will occur in the oil fed through pipe I 9 to the firepot and disturb the evenness or continuity of the stream of oil dropping from the point 25.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, mainly Fig. 4, at tention is called to the fact that the housing 28 is cast in one piece with a downwardly projecting boss 53 and a rearwardly projecting boss 54 for support of the housing on standards or posts 55 and 56, respectively. The post 55 telescopes in a tubular base 51 secured, as indicated, to the floor, and a set screw 58 is provided to fasten the post 55 in place when the housing 29 is disposed at the desired elevation. A pair of spaced supports 59 constitute a base for the post 55, a cast yoke 69, towhich the lower end of the post 56 is secured, being slidable up and down on the supports 59 and arranged to be secured in adjusted position by means of set screws 6| The supports" 59 are suitably secured to the floor as indicated. These two supports together with the base 51 constitute a tripod support for the housing 28, although only two posts 55 and 56 are utilized. The structure, therefore, has the desired stability. The housing 28, it will now be seen, has other integral projections and is otherwise so constructed for support of the regulator 42, float valve control valve l6, and motor M, in addition, of course, to those parts which by reason of their connection with the parts named, are supported thereby, as, for example, the air tube 20, the outer end of which is connected with the housing 28 in the neck 29. A bracket 62 and boss 63 formed integral with the housing 28 on its periphery support the regulator 42. A bracket 64 formed integral with the housing 28 also on its periphery supports the float valve H, as well as its associated trip members, and a shield 85 therefor. A small projection 66 is formed integral with the bracket 64 and constitutes a support for the trip mechanism. Another lug 61 formed integral with the bottom of the housing constitutes a support for the control valve l6 and also in a measure for the solenoid valve iii, the latter being connected with the valve l6 as well as with the float valve l l. The housing of motor M has a flange 68 by means of which it is bolted. directly to the side of the hous ing 28, as at 69, so as to be supported by the housing.

The supporting post 55 is so disposed with respect to the float valve 1 l and its associated trip mechanism that the chain 41 extending from the trip lever 46 can be extended downwardly through the post 56 to the trip bucket #15, the latter being disposed inside a sheet metal housing ill provided therefor in the yoke 59. Thus, the chain :l'l is pro-- tested for the greater portion of its length from accidentally being brushed against and causin the operation of the trip mechanism, and the trip bucket is also protected against accidental engagement such as might result in the functioning of the trip mechanism. These parts are also kept out of sight so that children or others will not be apt to tamper with them and throw the burner out of operation. A hinged door H is provided on the front of the housing 70 to afford access to the trip bucket whenever it may be necessary to empty it. The post 55, besides serving as a housing and guide for the chain l? of the trip bucket, also has the lower end of the overflow tube extended into it so as to conduct overflow oil from the float valve to the trip bucket. The post 56, therefore, has a three-fold function; besides serving as a support for the housing 28 and its appurtenances, it serves these other two purposes. The pipe M for draining oil overflowing from the firepot 22 into the base 33 has connection with the yoke 60, as indicated in Fig. 5, and a passage 12 is provided in the yoke communicating with the end of the pipe EA and arranged to discharge into the trip bucket 45.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. While I have made reference to various specific details of construction found in this single working embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but embraces all legitimate modifications and adaptations coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a liquid fuel burner and an apparatus for feeding fuel and air under pressure thereto; a combined overflow cut-off and supporting structure for said apparatus comprising a front upright supporting post vertically adjustable on a fixed base, a hollow rear upright supporting post vertically adjustable on a second fixed base including a pair of laterally spaced fixed supports, a housing supporting said rear post disposed between and adjustable vertically on said spaced supports, an overflow fuel receptacle enclosed in said housing, a float controlled fuel valve and a trip mechanism therefor operative to close said valve to shut off fuel feed, both being positioned above said hollow post, means extending through said post and connecting said receptacle with said trip mechanism, and means including said hollow post and housing for conducting overflow and unconsumed fuel into said receptacle.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said overflow conducting means includes a conduit extending from the float chamber for said valve at a point above the normal level of the fuel therein into the upper end of said. supporting post, and a vent for the fuel line at a point intermediate said valve and burner comprising a conduit which communicates with said first conduit.

3. In combination with a liquid fuel burner and an apparatus for feeding fuel and air under pressure thereto; a supporting structure for said apparatus comprising a hollow upright supporting post vertically adjustable on a fixed base including a pair of laterally spaced fixed supports, and a housing supporting said post disposed between and adjustable vertically on said spaced supports, and an overflow cut-off combined with said supporting structure comprising an overflow fuel receptacle enclosed in said housing, a float controlled fuel valve and a trip mechanism therefor operative to close said valve to shut off fuel feed, both being positioned above said hollow post, means extending through said post and connecting said receptacle with said trip mechanism, and means including said hollow post for conducting overflow fuel intosaid receptacle.

4. In combination with a liquid fuel burner and an apparatus for feeding fuel and air under pressure thereto; a supporting structure for said apparatus comprising a hollow upright supporting post vertically adjustable on a fixed base including a pair of laterally spaced fixed supports, and a housing supporting said post disposed between and adjustable vertically on said spaced supports, and a fuel feed cut-off combined with said supporting structure comprising a fuel receptacle enclosed in said housing, a fuel valve and a. trip mechanism therefor operative to close said valve to shut off fuel feed, the trip mechanism being positioned above the hollow post, means extending through said post from the trip mechanism to the fuel receptacle for suspension of the latter on the former, and means for conducting unconsumed fuel into said receptacle.

5. In combination with a. liquid fuel burner and an apparatus for feeding fuel and air under pressure thereto, including a blower housing; a supporting structure for said apparatus comprising a second housing below the blower housing, a hollow vertical support rigidly interconnecting said housings, and means whereon the lower housing is vertically adjustable, and a fuel cutoff combined with said supporting structure comprising a fuel receptacle enclosed in said lower housing a float-controlled fuel valve and a trip mechanism therefor operative to close said valve to shut off fuel feed, both being positioned above the hollow support, means extending through said hollow support and connecting said receptacle with said trip mechanism, and means including said hollow support for conducting overflow fuel into said receptacle.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the float-controlled fuel valve includes a float chamber having an atmospheric space above the normal level of the fuel therein, and a vent for the fuel line at a point intermediate said valve and burner comprising a conduit communicating with said space. I

JOHN H. MCILVAINE. 

